Ethiopia
A visit to the ancient country in the Horn of Africa
Ethiopia is truly a land of contrasts and extremes, a land of remote and wild places. Some of the highest and most stunning places on the African continent are found here, such as the ruggedly-carved spires of the Simien Mountains, one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites – and some of the lowest, such as the hot but fascinating Danakil Depression, with its sulphur fumaroles and lunar-like landscape.
One of the most striking geographical features of the country, the Great Rift Valley, is home to a chain of beautiful lakes, around which many of Ethiopia’s national parks are centred. The widely varying habitats of mountains, lakes, deserts, savannahs, and everything in between, host an astonishing array of wildlife and bird life, many of which are unique to Ethiopia.
Religion in this fascinating country is unique as well. Many visitors know Ethiopia for its splendid rock-hewn churches and colourful ceremonies and symbols of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Perhaps best known are Lalibela’s amazing assemblage of rock churches – often referred to as the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’ – but equally wondrous are those curved into cliff side crevices in the mountains of the Tigray region, often reached only by the most determined and devout.
Islam, too, has strong and centuries-old roots in the country. Although the religion is particularly epitomized in the romantic walled city of Harar, the elegant minarets of mosques can be seen throughout most of the countryside.
But it is Ethiopia’s people who join with the spectacular scenery, abundant fauna and fascinating religions to truly round up the character of this ancient land.
Many of the country’s large variety of ethnic groups have their own customs, crafts, homes and unique languages. There are an astonishing eighty three languages, with 200 dialects: just one more amazing feature of amazing Ethiopia.
Trip Description
This extensive tour of the oldest country on the African Continent offers a variety of experiences. We start the trip in ADDIS ABABA to coincide with the spectacular Ethiopian Orthodox religious festival “The finding of the True Cross” with processions, church services, traditional singing and drumming.
The trip continues via BAHAR DAR and Lake TANA to visit ancient monasteries, to the Royal Enclosure of GONDAR, to the breathtaking landscape of the SIMIEN MOUNTAINS, where we stay one night in the highest hotel on the African Continent. We marvel about AXUM’s mysterious stelae , visit isolated monasteries in TIGRAY province and make our way along the RIFT VALLEY south into the highlands to the most famous site, LALIBELA’ s rock hewn churches. We visit markets, meet the locals, sample local and the traditional food ‘ injera’ and continue to BATI, the large camel market on the edge of the Danakil Depression on our way to the walled Muslim city of HARAR in Eastern Ethiopia. We visit game parks, see Zebras, Gelada baboons, crocodiles and hippos in the southern lakes and a variety of endemic birds and flora.
The trip ends in ARBA MINCH from where we either fly or drive back to ADDIS and return to AUS.
Price for this extensive 3 week trip is approx. 4990.- from ADDIS ABABA.
Flights can be booked through us.
The trip is planned to start 23rd September 2012 and includes domestic flights, travel in A/C midi bus, shared accommodation in 2-3* (or best available) hotels with en-suite, all breakfasts and 1 meal per day, mostly dinner; single accommodation available.
Option: From Arba Minch you have the option to fly/drive to the South Omo Valley to visit the tribes of the Hamer, Mursi, Konso people and other ethnic communities who live a very different but fascinating lifestyle. (e.g. lip plates, jumping of the bulls, etc.) Price of this option is A$ 900.- .
You can see photos of my previous trips to Ethiopia in my gallery.
Itinerary
Departure: Monday, 24. September with ‘Emirates’ to Dubai and onto Addis Ababa
Exact flight times from Australia to be advised:
Day 1 Tuesday, 25. September 2012.
Our flights arrive from Dubai around 7 am.
Welcome by our agent and guide and transfer to hotel.
After settling into our hotel and a brief rest, we will have a city tour in Addis Ababa.
O/N and Dinner in Hotel in Addis B/D
Day 2 Wednesday, 26 September 2012
We continue our city tour of Addis, visit the museums and participate in the afternoon in the street festival ‘The finding of the True Cross’, at Meskel Square
B/D Hotel in Addis
Day 3 Thursday, 27 September 2012
Early morning flight (about 40 minutes) to Bahar Dar/ Lake Tana.
This morning we take a boat trip across Lake Tana to visit the monastery of Ura Kidane Mihiret passing the firewood collectors paddling their long reed boats towards town. After a short rest we drive close to and walk the rest to Tisi Issat, the Blue Nile falls.
O/N in Bahar Dar B/D
Day 4 Friday 28 September, 2012
This morning we have a short trip along Lake Tana to Gondar where we will have the rest of the day to visit the Royal Enclosure, famous Fasilides Bath, the wonderfully painted Debre Birhan Selase church.
O/N Gondar B/D
Day 5 Saturday 29 September 2012
The Simien Mountain National Park is our next destination, only a couple of hours away from Gondar. We have time to spend all day in the Simien Park, watching up close the Gelada Baboons and enjoying the fantastic views of these rugged cliffs and mountains. The view from our hotel Simien Lodge is particularly picturesque and impressive as the sun sets over the Simien Mountains.
O/N Simien Lodge B/D.
Day 6 Sunday 30 September 2012
Today we leave our mountain lodge, the highest hotel in Africa and have quite a long day drive to Axum, however the views are spectacular, even if the road is not so exciting.
O/N Axum B/D
Day 7 Monday 1 October 2012
We visit the huge single stone Stelae, testimony to the ancient and powerful Axumite kingdom, and the well guarded sanctuary chapel containing of the Ark of the Covenant.
O/N Axum B/D
Day 8 Tuesday 2 October 2012
Our trip continues through Tigray province, visit the Yeha moon temple, a large pre-Christian shrine erected in the 5th Cent. BCthe place of the famous battle at Adawa mountain , and hope to visit a typical Tigray village and some of the Tigray monasteries clinging to steep cliffs. (Monastery Debre Damo can be visited by men only!) and is reached by ropes..
O/N Geralta Lodge, D/B
Day 9 Wednesday 3 October 2012
After a night in comfortable Geralta Lodge we continue our trip to Makele, visiting 2 of Tigray roch-hewn churches and the Negash mosque on the way. Arriving in Makele we have the chance to visit the Makele Museum.
O/N Hotel Axum D/B
Day 10 Thursday, 4 October 2012
We are driving south now, towards the highlands of Lalibela, past the Ashenge lake.
We stay O/N at Mountain View Hotel or similar in Lalibela B/D
Day 11 Friday 5 October
The highlight of this trip known as the ‘Eighth wonder of the world’ are certainly the rock hewn churches in Lalibela.
We are staying 3 nights in Lalibela and have plenty of time to get the know beautiful surroundings of this remote area as well as some local traditions like coffee ceremony. O/N Lalibela, B/D
Day 12 Saturday 6 October
Excursion to one of the near by monasteries of Lalibela.
On return we can visit the weekly big open market in Lalibela, attracting a lot of people of the surrounding villages.
At night we take part n a fascinating church ceremony.
O/N Lalibela, B/D
Day 13 Sunday 7 October
We say fare well to our new friends in Lalibela and continue our drive via the highlands towards Kombolcha. A day’s drive will bring us back to the Rift Valley. O/N Kombolcha, Sunny Side Hotel
Day 14 Monday 8 October
Today we visit the Bati market, the biggest camel market in Ethiopia. Camels bring salt from the Danakil Depression by Afar caravans. This is one of the highlights of the trip, you meet a great mix of Ethiopian ethnic people. Amhara, Oromo, Afar, Tigray etc. After visiting the market we drive to Awash to stay the night.
O/N Awash National Falls Lodge or Genet Hotel, B/D
Day 15 Tuesday 9 October
After visiting the Awash National Park and the Awash waterfalls. We continue our drive east to Harar.
O/N Harar, B/D
Day 16 Wednesday 10 October
We tour the old town today, visit the four gates of the walled city, and visit the local market and walk through the old town. At night we see the ‘Hyena man’ feeding hyenas by hand. – You can have a go at feeding too! Ladies can have their feet/hands henna tattooed, and chat can be bought fresh at the market!
O/N Harar, B/D
Day 17 Thursday 11 October
The trip towards south will take us two days, first o/n stop is in Nazret.
O/N Adama German Hotel B/D
Day 18 Friday 12 October
We continue driving to Arba Minch through very scenic areas, along the lakes of the southern rift valley, Lake Ziway, Langano and Abjiatta; we stop to watch the abundant birdlife along the shores of the lake Ziway.
O/N Tourist Hotel or Paradise Lodge B/D
Day 19 Saturday, 13 October
Today we start our little safari to the Nechisar National Park, to see Zebras, and our boat trip on Lake Chamo to visit crocodile market and to see hypos.
O/N Tourist Hotel or Paradise Ldge B/D
(The travellers who booked the South Omo Valley Option will leave the group this morning to travel south; see separate page for Omo Option)
Day 20 Sunday, 14 October
Our trip has almost reached its end….
We return to Addis via Awassa, where we spend our last night in Ethiopia. On way to Awassa we visit a Dorze village, known for its unusual beehive huts and the ‘false banana’ plant and its intricate preparation to make bread.
O/N Awassa , Tadese Injori Hotel B/D
Day 21 Monday 15 October
After visiting the fish market we return to Addis Ababa.
We have a farewell dinner in a traditional restaurant, where we can have a last glance of the many varying Ethiopian dance styles and tunes in truly traditional style.
After dinner, it is time to say farewell to our new friends and to Ethiopia.
Transfer to the airport for return flight to Australia.
Option to South Omo Valley:
Day 19 Saturday 13 October
We leave early in the morning to travel in 4 x 4 cars with A/C from Arba Minch to Jinka, and visit on the way a Konso village
O/N Jinka Resort B/D
Day 20 Sunday 14 October
Drive to Mago National Park, to visit Mursi tribe
O/N Jinka Resort B/D
Day 21 Monday 15 October
Today’s drive leads us to Turmi for the famous weekly market.
O/N Turmi Lodge or Buska Lodge B/D
Day 22 Tuesday 16 October
We cross the Omo River by canoe to see the Dasenech tribe and after return we visit a Hamer village. If we are lucky the Hamer will do some traditional dancing for us.
O/N Turmi Lodge or Buska Lodge B/D
Day 23 Wednesday 17 October
We return from Turmi to Arba Minch and visit the Elbore tribe.
O/N Tourist Hotel or Paradise Lodge B/D
Day 24 Thursday 18 October
Today we start our little safari to the Nechisar National Park, to see Zebras, and our boat trip on Lake Chamo to visit crocodile market and to see hypos.
O/N Tourist Hotel or Paradise Lodge B/D
Day 25 Friday 19 October
Our trip has almost reached its end…. We return to Addis via Awassa, where we spend our last night in Ethiopia. On way to Awassa we visit a Dorze village, known for its unusual beehive huts and the ‘false banana plant and its intricate preparation to make bread.
O/N Awassa , Tadese Injori Hotel B/D
Day 26 Saturday 20 October
After visiting the fish market we return to Addis Ababa.
We have a farewell dinner in a traditional restaurant, where we can have a last glance of the many varying Ethiopian dance styles and tunes in truly traditional style.
After dinner, it is time to say farewell to our new friends and to Ethiopia.
Transfer to the airport for return flight to Australia.